Osaka 2025 Day 1

10 years ago, we went to Osaka for our honeymoon. 

This time, we are going to Osaka, not just the both of us, with our kids, and also with darling's parents and sister. It is a 7D6N trip, all at Osaka. Did not want to be too adventurous, because darling's parents are getting old, yuanze and yuanyi may not have enough stamina. 

Flew by SQ to Osaka. This time, Yuan Ze is very independent and he can go to the washroom on his own. Yuan Yi still need me to accompany him and I taught him exactly what to do. Hopefully the next flight, he can go to the washroom on his own. I enjoyed the inflight meal, especially the chasoba. Is always a good idea to pre-order the kid's meal for Yuan Ze and Yuan Yi as they can get the food first. The main course was normal, but their dessert (chocolate cake) and fruits platter were gobbled up first by both of them. 

Reached Osaka and cleared the immigration very fast, in about 30 minutes. It is important to settle the Visit Japan Web QR codes beforehand. The moment we reach the immigration counter, we scanned the QR codes and passport at an automated counter, then go to a manned counter to let the immigration officer chop our passport, and we are done. And when we went to the luggage belt to collect our luggage, all our luggage is not on the belt, because the airport staff has brought down all the luggage to the floor. Japan efficiency at its finest. 

And off we go, to our airbnb, via public transport. A bit worried, because we are all wheeling luggage, and we have the old parents and the young kids. Imagine if the old parents or the young kids go in the train, the train door closes, and the adults never get in the train, GG liao. So we set a SOP, darling will go in the train first, followed by everyone, and I will go in the last. Same thing when we exit the train, darling will exit first, followed by everyone, and I will exit last. 

Yuan Yi can memorise some of the train station names. "Bentencho" "Asashiobashi" "Ebisucho" Then after reciting these names, he will LOL. I am glad to be able to create these beautiful memories for him. 

Our first airbnb is about 3 min walk from Asashiobashi station. I first chose this airbnb because is near Universal Studios Japan, which we intend to go. And then nearing the trip, we see that USJ is packed with people, the entrance tickets and express passes are super expensive, we decided to give it a miss, and asked Yuan Ze and Yuan Yi if they are ok to go to another theme park that has lesser people and they agreed. LOL. This airbnb has free cancellation, but it has very good reviews and the pictures of the airbnb really look very nice, so I decided to go ahead with this airbnb, and it turned out to be a very good decision that I went ahead. The airbnb really had everything it described, and just opposite the airbnb there is a daiso, a supermarket, and kirindo drug store. Yuan Ze go to the daiso every night to buy stuff. The supermarket, according to darling is nothing much. But the kirindo drug store, omg is amazing. Many things to buy there, from medicine to snacks to groceries. We spent alot of time and money there. LOL. 

The black building with a red cloth is our airbnb. 

Airbnb provide free sake. But I didnt try. 

Even the toilet basin also so cool. 

Got a shrine.

Magazines and comics for reading.

Kimonos and samurai swords for photoshoot. 

0.6 view of the airbnb interior. 

The only downside of booking this airbnb is... it is 2-storey, and the bedrooms are on the 2nd storey. Very siong to bring up the luggage to the 2nd floor, and then bring down the luggage when we check out. LOL. But other than that, all is good. 

Osaka turns dark very early, at about 5 pm. When we reach our airbnb, is already 6 pm, and is dinner time. We went to a few restaurants recommended by the airbnb owner, and is all packed, probably because is a Sunday. So we bought food at 7-11 that is also very near to our airbnb. I always love the konbinis at Japan. So many things to buy, eat and drink. 

And I love to book big size airbnbs with big dining table, because all of us can eat and chat at the table, and give the homely feeling. :)

Our dinner: cup noodles, oden, assorted bentos. Simple dinner, but our hearts and tummies are full. :)

General Election 2025

Fun fact: 

PE 2023: The pay was $280.

GE 2025: The pay is $330. 

Elections duty for GE 2025 done! (I hope they dun call me back anymore)

My elections duty thus far:

PE 2011

GE 2015

PE 2023

GE 2025

Taiwan Day 8 (6 Dec 2024)

Our last day in Taiwan liao. 

After checking out of Magi Kids, the first place we went to is Ninja Totolo, to undergo ninja training to become the next Naruto. 

After the ninja training, we are hungry and went to a pizza place to make our own pizza. And the pizza place is just beside a scenic lake called 望龙碑 that I wasnt aware at all when I found the pizza place on google maps. So after eating the pizza , we went to the lake to feed the fishes and ducks. 

After lunch, it was a long drive to Taoyuan, where we stayed at our final accomodation of the trip, that is a airbnb. I chose this place because is 20 minutes drive to the airport, where our flight is early in the morning the next day. 

The airbnb is in a convenient location, with many restaurants nearby, and a shopping centre, that has Taiwan's biggest 扭蛋 store. 

Our dinner is at a Taiwanese Izakaya just beside our airbnb. The food is good! I found it on google maps and the reviews are very good. 

And that's it for our 9D8N taiwan trip! I had a great time with my family, and I hope everyone enjoyed the trip as much as I did. Will definitely come back Taiwan the next time!

Taiwan trips down memory lane:

1990s - Taiwan the first time, with my parents and sisters

2002 - With the army for overseas training

Mid 2000 - With JC friends

2008 - With darling

2009 - With KC and Zhenhong

2012 - With Fen, NZJ and HW

2016 - With darling

2018 - With darling, yuanze and darling's family

2019 - With darling and yuanze

2024 - With darling, yuanze, yuanyi and my family (wow this is my 10th time sia)

More to come!  

Taiwan Day 7 (5 Dec 2024)

Started the day with a 6 km jog at Yilan. 

The breakfast spread at Xinyuan is kua zhang. 

We cannot finish the food. LOL. Have to 意思意思 dabao the hard boil eggs. 

Mr Skin help us take a group photo at the entrance of Xinyuan. 

Our first destination for the day is Lucky Art Crayon Factory. It is a good place to bring the kids. There are 4 DIY stations. First station make windmill, second station make marker pen, third station make crayon, and the final station make your own tattoo. 

Second destination is Wild Wild Ball. The kids had a fun time here. 

 

And then we checked in at probably the kids' favourite hotel of the entire trip, Check Inn Magi Kids Hotel. Truly a kids hotel, they have a racing track, and a full collection of cars for the kids to choose, porsche, mercedes, bmw, you name it, they have it. They also have a giant slide, from level 3 slide down to level 2. They have a kids' playing area of table football, nintendo switch. And beside the playing area there is a lounge for the adults to chill, and also have massage chairs. Alot of thoughts are being placed in designing this hotel. 

We ended the day with grocery shopping at 全联, 5 years ago we also shopped at the same supermarket but it was called 顶好. And then we went to Luodong Night Market for dinner and games. The kids' stamina have improved from this trip, through all the long walking. Luodong Night Market is 550 m away from the hotel and they have walked at least 1.1 km. Kudos to them. 

That's it for Day 7~